Daniel Beaver, a resident of Stephenson County for over forty years, where he has been engaged in carpentering, was born in what is now Snyder County, Pa., Nov. 23, 1817.  His first trip to this State had been practically an experiment to determine whether he would select it as his future residence.  The face of the country and the class of people which were setting it up, suited him in all respects, and he returned to Pennsylvania for his family.  
The first representatives of the Beaver family in this country settled in Pennsylvania prior to the Revolutionary War, and almost without exception followed agriculture.  Our subject did not return West as soon as he expected, but remained on his father's farm, assisting in its management and the cultivation of the soil until 1864.  One the 31st of May, that year, occurred one of the most important events of his life, namely, his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Young, and shortly afterward he set out with his bride, and once more sought the great West.  They began housekeeping in a small dwelling in Buckeye Township, and Mr. Beaver commenced working at his trade, which he has followed almost uninterrupted since that time. To a great extent he labors still with this old-time energy, and is never contented unless employed.  His children, five in number, are Clara A., Mrs. Bolander of Oraugeville; William F., engaged in irrigating land in Colorado; Charles E., in a book-bindery at Lawrence, Kan.; Adela M., and Rosa A., the latter at home with their parents.  Mr. Beaver is Republican in politics, and a Lutheran in religion.  His estimable wife belongs to the Reformed Church.   

 

Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill., containing Full Page Portraits, and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County, together with Portraits and Biographies of all the governors of Illinois and of the Presidents of the United States, printed by the Chapman Brothers, Chicago, IL, 1888
Transcribed by D. Joshua Taylor, May 2005.